Man says he stole car so he could drive to drug buy

A man arrested for investigation of stealing a woman's vehicle told police he did it because he didn't want to walk to where he was going to buy drugs, police said.

A woman pulled over near 3300 South and 200 West about 4 p.m. Thursday and got out of her car to ask a pedestrian for directions.

While she was getting directions, another man jumped into her vehicle and took off, said South Salt Lake Police Capt. Chris Snyder.

A nearby officer was flagged down and moments later the officer spotted the car on West Temple, Snyder said.

The alleged thief ended up driving down a dead end street, became boxed in and was arrested without further incident at gunpoint, Snyder said.

"I screwed up," the man told the officer, according to Snyder.

Police didn't argue with the man and booked him into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle.

The man also told investigators he was on his way to buy drugs and stole the car because he didn't want to walk, Snyder said.